Academic Policies

Guidelines for Graduate Programs

The Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources (Statler College)
at West Virginia University (WVU) is authorized to admit qualified students to
graduate programs that lead to successful completion of the degrees of Masters
of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). The
guidelines presented, in conjunction with the
University Graduate Catalog and departmental guidelines, describe in detail
the minimum College requirements for the above mentioned degrees.

Each department and program within a department may impose stricter requirements
than those required by the College. These requirements are listed in the department
guidelines and procedures, and are available on the department website to prospective
and current students.

WVU Catalog

The West Virginia University Catalog is a general source of information about course
offerings, academic programs and requirements, expenses, rules, and policies. In
order to reach the goals and fulfill the mission of the University, the courses,
requirements, and regulations contained herein are subject to continuing review
and change by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, the WVU Board
of Governors, University administrators, and the faculties of the schools and colleges.
The University, therefore, reserves the right to change, delete, supplement, or
otherwise amend the information, course offerings, requirements, rules, and policies
contained herein without prior notice. The WVU catalog can be found here:
WVU Catalog

Statler College Assistantship Policy

Graduate education is fundamental to West Virginia University and the Statler College
research and educational missions. Vibrant and high quality graduate programs are
vital to our competitiveness with peer institutions in scholarly publications,
external research sponsorship, and national rankings. The recruitment of quality
graduate students is critical to meet these missions and will positively impact
our graduate programs and the success of our students. To ensure this success the
Statler College treats graduate students as junior colleagues and provides them
a competitive wage/stipend and expects them to be responsible and professional
as well. The policy on Statler College graduate wage and service stipend policy
can be found here:
Statler College Assistantship Policy

Policy on Masters Degree Coursework Revalidation

Graduate work planned with the student's advisory committee must be satisfactorily
completed within a period of eight years, immediately preceding the conferring
of the degree. A course taken more than eight years previously must be revalidated
if it to be used toward meeting degree requirements. The complete revalidation
procedure and policy can be found here:
Policy on Masters Degree Coursework Revalidation

Guidelines for Graduates Participation in May Commencement Activities

In order to give public recognition to the work of our graduates who will officially
complete all degree requirements following the May Commencement, but before the
end of summer (August 15 or thereabouts), the Provost's Office believes students
could be permitted to participate in May Commencement under certain conditions,
which can be found here:
Commencement Guidelines The Statler College has interpreted these conditions
and the following is a list of conditions to participate in the Statler College
Commencement:

The college dean, as certifying officer, has sufficient evidence that he/she believes
the student will complete all degree requirements (graduate or undergraduate)
by the official August Graduation date. For undergraduate students, this would
be limited to eight credit hours or less to complete degree requirements in the
summer and an overall GPA and major GPA greater than or equal to 2.10.

The advisor must submit a request to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs stating
that the student is within
8 credit hours of graduation and request permission to participate in the ceremony.
The department chair must approve any requests for students who have more than
8 hours of coursework remaining.

Student must show proof of registration for the summer semester.

Graduate students may participate and be hooded if they have successfully defended
their thesis or dissertation work even if all follow-up work has not yet been
completed, but the dean (and advisor) believes this work will be completed before
the official summer graduation date.

All requests must be submitted to Student Services, 141 ESB, before May 1.

Students who participate in May Commencement, but do not graduate until August
still
must apply for graduation in August.

Though they are invited to participate in the ceremony,
August graduates will not be included in the May Commencement program. Their
names will be listed in the December Commencement program. August graduates will not receive their Latin honor cords, if applicable, until after all graduation requirements have been met.